NEC ships hybrid next-gen optical chip

Written by Wil Harris

October 10, 2006 | 17:50

Tags: #chip #hd-dvd #lasers #next-gen #optical

Companies: #blu-ray #nec #samsung #sony #toshiba

NEC has announced to the world that it is now shipping a controller chip designed to play back both HD-DVD and Blu-ray content.

The chip, which costs around $84, will reach estimated shipments of around 300,000 by April next year, NEC has said. The company estimates that the chip will be at the heart of a new range of hybrid players, once hybrid optical lasers go into full production.

At $84, it costs roughly the same amount of single-format chips.

NEC hasn't taken sides in the format wars - whereas Toshiba has stood firmly behind HD-DVD and Samsung behind Blu-ray, along with Sony.

A shortage of blue ray lasers, which are at the core of both competing technologies, has led to a relatively small initial roll-out of next-gen technologies, with Sony being forced to delay the launch of the PS3 because of the lack of availability.

Will we see hybrid players next year, thus killing the format wars before they have really started in the mainstream? We shall soon see, but let us know your thoughts over in the forums.
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